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Assisted Suicide

On 25 February 2010 the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, launched the Policy for Prosecutors in respect of cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide.

The policy provides guidance to prosecutors on the public interest factors to take into account in reaching decisions in cases of encouraging or assisting suicide.

The public can have full confidence in the policy the CPS will follow in deciding whether or not to prosecute cases of assisted suicide, the DPP said on publication.

The Director published the policy after taking account of thousands of responses received as part of what is believed to be the most extensive snapshot of public opinion on assisted suicide since the Suicide Act 1961 was introduced. Nearly 5,000 responses were received by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following the consultation exercise launched in September 2009.

The Director said: "The policy is now more focused on the motivation of the suspect rather than the characteristics of the victim. The policy does not change the law on assisted suicide. It does not open the door for euthanasia. It does not override the will of Parliament. What it does is to provide a clear framework for prosecutors to decide which cases should proceed to court and which should not.

"Assessing whether a case should go to court is not simply a question of adding up the public interest factors for and against prosecution and seeing which has the greater number. It is not a tick box exercise. Each case has to be considered on its own facts and merits.

"As a result of the consultation exercise there have been changes to the policy. But that does not mean prosecutions are more or less likely. The policy has not been relaxed or tightened but there has been a change of focus".

Prosecution policy and guidance

This policy document issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions provides guidance to prosecutors on the public interest factors to take into account in reaching decisions in cases of encouraging or assisting suicide. .

Public Consultation Exercise Summary of Responses

This document issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions contains a summary of public responses from nearly 5,000 responses to the assisted suicide consultation undertaken by the Crown Prosecution Service in September 2009.

Latest Assisted Suicide Figures

26 April 2016

Cases of assisted suicide are recorded centrally by CPS Headquarters and are dealt with in the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division in the CPS. Our records show the following:

From 1 April 2009 up to 25 April 2016, there have been 124 cases referred to the CPS by the police that have been recorded as assisted suicide.

Of these 124 cases, 78 were not proceeded with by the CPS. 24 cases were withdrawn by the police.

There are currently 10 ongoing cases. 1 case of assisted attempted suicide was successfully prosecuted in October 2013, 1 case of assisted suicide was charged and acquitted after trial in May 2015 and 6 cases were referred onwards for prosecution for homicide or other serious crime.

The figures shown above will be updated every 6 months.

Assisted Suicide cases - published decisions

The following are links to public statements made by the Director of Public Prosecutions and other CPS prosecutors on cases where the policy on Assisted Suicide has applied or in cases that are otherwise relevant.